To not break the *cooking* tradition, this is what I made myself for Thanksgiving this year.
Happy Turkey Day y'all!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving in India
It hit me tonight that it’s the first time in ten years I am not happily slaving in the kitchen during Thanksgiving. This is the end result of cooking for eleven hours at my sister’s place in NYC (2005).
To not break the *cooking* tradition, this is what I made myself for Thanksgiving this year.
Happy Turkey Day y'all!
To not break the *cooking* tradition, this is what I made myself for Thanksgiving this year.
Happy Turkey Day y'all!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Pondicherry and Auroville
I shouldn't title this trip with "Pondicherry" because we were hardly there. We spent most of our waking hours exploring Auroville but after three days, I am still unsure if I get it. In a nutshell, as I understand it, Auroville is a project that was dreamed and started by "The Mother" of a place "... where all human beings of good will, sincere in their aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world, obeying one single authority, that of the supreme Truth ...". It has been nearly 40 years since the birth of Auroville and today, it is close to 2100 acres and mostly populated with forest, fruit trees and about 2000 people.
If I can describe Auroville in one word, it'd be serene. At first glance, Auroville looks like expatriates have invaded India. More than 40% of the population is of European descent.
We rented bicycles at first but all the bicycles were old and wobbly and the lights doesn't work so we got some TVS/moped instead, which I think is the best way to get around Auroville. Here's Pritika and Livio.
Afsana Guest House - is where we stayed.
An Aurovillian home - mosaic rooftop and random statues in the garden. We were told this house was built by an American lady but currently home to a Spaniard couple.
Dynamised water - good enough to drink without the need to filter or boil and believed to cure various ailments. You could get this for free at the Visitor's Center.
Matrimandir - is situated right in the center of Auroville. We didn't get to visit because you have to get an entry pass, which is not something possible on weekends. This building took 37 years to construct, is used for meditation and does not belong to any religion.
Another Aurovillan homes. Smurf's house?
Next to Ami Guest House is an area where you will notice strange things like motorcycles balancing on the top of trees making the whole place looking a creepy adult playground. Livio and Anand are playing on a merry-go-round.
Roadside Idly and masala chai stop on our way to Pondicherry.
More pictures of Pondi and Auroville
If I can describe Auroville in one word, it'd be serene. At first glance, Auroville looks like expatriates have invaded India. More than 40% of the population is of European descent.
We rented bicycles at first but all the bicycles were old and wobbly and the lights doesn't work so we got some TVS/moped instead, which I think is the best way to get around Auroville. Here's Pritika and Livio.
Afsana Guest House - is where we stayed.
An Aurovillian home - mosaic rooftop and random statues in the garden. We were told this house was built by an American lady but currently home to a Spaniard couple.
Dynamised water - good enough to drink without the need to filter or boil and believed to cure various ailments. You could get this for free at the Visitor's Center.
Matrimandir - is situated right in the center of Auroville. We didn't get to visit because you have to get an entry pass, which is not something possible on weekends. This building took 37 years to construct, is used for meditation and does not belong to any religion.
Another Aurovillan homes. Smurf's house?
Next to Ami Guest House is an area where you will notice strange things like motorcycles balancing on the top of trees making the whole place looking a creepy adult playground. Livio and Anand are playing on a merry-go-round.
Roadside Idly and masala chai stop on our way to Pondicherry.
More pictures of Pondi and Auroville
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ooty
Ooty is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu that was established by the British in the early 19th century. This scenic and somewhat romantic place is about 6-8 hours drive from Bangalore and is perfect for an extended cool and relaxing weekend getaway from the noisy and dusty city.
Meet this weekend's travel buddies Madhu and Kan with Ravee, our excellent driver cum Ooty tour guide (Ravee is very familiar with Ooty because he and his wife came here for their honeymoon) and a random old female monkey. View from Dolphin Nose.
Toy train ride to Coonor.
Tea plantation at Highfield Tea factory, Coonor
Botanical Garden, Ooty
We stayed at Destiny’s Farm located in Emerald Hill or Dam, about 25 km away from Ooty. The hotel has a farm/cowboy theme and the place looks more like Texas than India. To get here, you have to park your car about 1 km away and a huge tractor will bring you to the hotel because the roads were apparently dugout by the government to protect the wildlife in the forest reserve. If you decide to stay here, I would suggest this be your first or last stop because it's quite a pain to go back and forth Ooty. The tariff includes trekking, fishing, horseback riding and Kum Ba Yah bonfire to keep you busy during your stay.
http://www.littlearth.in/destiny/
Kan taking a nap after fishing.
Horseback-riding.
The farmstay is fenced with electric barbed wire to keep wild animals away. Here is our trek destination, right outside the fenced perimeter. The locals use coracle to cross the dam bringing with them fresh vegetables and fruits.
On our way back to Bangalore, we drove through Mudumalai National Park and saw some wild elephants, mongoose and peacocks.
More Ooty Pictures.
Meet this weekend's travel buddies Madhu and Kan with Ravee, our excellent driver cum Ooty tour guide (Ravee is very familiar with Ooty because he and his wife came here for their honeymoon) and a random old female monkey. View from Dolphin Nose.
Toy train ride to Coonor.
Tea plantation at Highfield Tea factory, Coonor
Botanical Garden, Ooty
We stayed at Destiny’s Farm located in Emerald Hill or Dam, about 25 km away from Ooty. The hotel has a farm/cowboy theme and the place looks more like Texas than India. To get here, you have to park your car about 1 km away and a huge tractor will bring you to the hotel because the roads were apparently dugout by the government to protect the wildlife in the forest reserve. If you decide to stay here, I would suggest this be your first or last stop because it's quite a pain to go back and forth Ooty. The tariff includes trekking, fishing, horseback riding and Kum Ba Yah bonfire to keep you busy during your stay.
http://www.littlearth.in/destiny/
Kan taking a nap after fishing.
Horseback-riding.
The farmstay is fenced with electric barbed wire to keep wild animals away. Here is our trek destination, right outside the fenced perimeter. The locals use coracle to cross the dam bringing with them fresh vegetables and fruits.
On our way back to Bangalore, we drove through Mudumalai National Park and saw some wild elephants, mongoose and peacocks.
More Ooty Pictures.
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